just to let you know

Long time, no see! Anyway, for those of you who don't already know, I started a second blog! That's right, pretty crazy for a girl who struggles with post ideas already! But anyway, I wanted to have somewhere I can record my fitness 'journey' as so to speak, so it only made sense. If you'd like to take a look, it's called Just Watch Me.

And as for the month-long absence I seem to have just taken, well, that's all explain in this post on the new blog too, so we sure to check it out!

writing about injuries

I know that not everyone here is a writer, or pretends to be at least, but I recently stumbled across this page, which is super helpful at detailing how to write about various injuries, including symptoms and everything. Just thought that this would be useful for anyone who writes for either fun or a living.

And yes, I made this image myself xD

reflection

Just a quick note - blue Skittles are the best omg!

Sir Terry Pratchett

Rest in peace, Sir.

under the weather

Where did this phrase originate from, does anyone know? It sounds like there's a cloud of rain and misery floating around above your head, that no one can see. It's a funny thing, however it did come about.

On that note, I may as well say that school and life in general are getting to me right now. I officially have Cold #3 of 2015, such a good start, I know! Basically I just feel so drained and tired all the time, and school has just started back so I'm on the go all the time. I just wish I had one extra day at the weekend - right now I only have one day a week at home to relax.

But I can't complain. I get to see my friends, and I still get to dance. I'm just feeling ever more grateful for these little things as revision is slowly taking over everything.


On a completely unrelated note, I've really been loving these flower pictures I took last week. Maybe spring isn't so far away after all!

healthy overnight oats

Who else here loves Pinterest? You can find a whole number of different recipes, diys, photographs, basically everything you could ever need online ;)

I recently came across a recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Overnight Oats (see here for the original recipe). Unfortunately, lacking ingredients, I had to make some modifications. Mine does not taste like cookie dough, but is still pretty damn good! Here's how I make it.

This serves two, so it lasts me two days. On the second day I tend to add half a banana just before eating, as most of the banana I originally included was eaten on the first day.


Ingredients
1 cup oats
1 cup (240ml) milk
1 banana
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of sea salt
2 tsp honey
Dark chocolate chips

Method
1. Microwave the banana (sliced) for 30 secs.
2. Combine all ingredients (except chocolate chips) in a mason jar (or other airtight container) and shake.
3. Leave in the fridge overnight.
4. Before eating, add chocolate chips, [optional: and 1/2 banana (sliced)].


And there you go! Yummy, healthy breakfast! Since I swapped my normal cereal for this, I have had a lot more energy and noticed a little less bloating! Of course, it doesn't taste like cookie dough like the original recipe, but it does taste deliciously of dark chocolate and banana. Enjoy!

spotting

In ballet class yesterday, we were practicing posé turns and pirouettes. I managed a few clean single pirouettes, and a couple of decent doubles. I still had trouble with the posé ones though, as my toe has swollen again, and demi-pointe hurts.

Anyway, spotting. I completely understand the concept. I mean, we've all read countless articles with different strategies, what works best, exercises to help, etc., but it's still something most of us struggle with. I raised my 'concern', if you could call it that, to the teacher, and her advice really helped me.

She told me that everyone is different. Yes, we get told this in all of the articles we read, but does it really sink in? Some people prefer spotting something above their heads, whereas others could prefer to spot themselves in the mirror. Usually, I kind of just zone out, I don't really know if I'm being honest! I just know that when I watch back videos, I don't see my head whipping back around.

So I first tried spotting a poster we have above the mirror. This didn't exactly work for me, the turn just ended up being sloppy and ended with me falling out of it. I tried again, this time spotting myself in the mirror. I don't have any videographic evidence, but I felt a whole lot better about this turn. I landed it, and repeated the whole things a couple of times, each time feeling just as good as the first. I think I'll be trying this again!

the infinity dreams award

Long time no see! This post is long overdue, but better late than never, right? Anyway, Ice from over at The Hobbyister nominated me for this 'award'. Go check her out, she's one of my favourites :3

Here are the rules:

1. Thank and follow the blog that nominated you.
2. Tell us 11 facts about you
3. Answer the questions that were set up for you
4. Nominate 11 people and make your questions for them


So here's the first part. The eleven facts about me.

1. I don't like even numbers. Most of the time, anyway.
2. I don't stretch for dance as much as I should.
3. I love being able to speak another language, and want to learn more!
4. I always seem to have dance things in my schoolbag - once I even had my resistance band!
5. I'm determined to have a six pack by, hopefully, the end of the year.
6. One of my closest friends lives in the Netherlands.
7. I really hate conflict so I try to avoid arguments as much as I can.
8. I find it so hard to get close to people, but when I do, those feelings never go away.
9. I first got inspired to take on photography at a huge family party. We'd booked a village hall, and someone was taking group photos with their DSLR and tripod.
10. I love to read. Right now I'm challenging myself to read Jane Eyre.
11. I get jealous way too easily.


Questions for me!

1. Chocolate or strawberry flavour?
Chocolate all the way!

2. What's the meaning behind your blog name?
Hm, well I'm kind of small and quiet, like a mouse, and I can also be pretty nimble at dance!

3. Celebrity crush?
Oh dear, where do I start?! I'm going to say Gerard Way, he's the longest-standing one I have :D

4. Would you rather have no one turn up to your wedding or your funeral?
Funeral, because I wouldn't be around to care.

5. City or countryside?
I'd like to try living in the city for a change. I live in the countryside now, more or less, and I really want to try different things!

6. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Well I'll be 21 then. Hopefully I'll have a job or be in university, doing something I love, like dance.

7. Beach or lake?
Beach! You can't not have the smell of the salty ocean air!

8. Why did you start blogging?
I just really want to remember my life, and look back to see how many memories I've made.

9. Dream career?
Dancer!

10. 3 obsessions?
Working out, fruit, and a few certain people (but not in the creepy way ;) don't worry!)

11. What would you tell yourself last year?
I'd tell myself to face my fears and just do the things that scared me. Maybe then things would have turned out for the better.


I nominate:
Lily | Joli House
Kathryn | If the Pointe Shoe Fits
Adult Beginner | Adult Beginner
Lucy | Attic24
Kirsten | Adult Ballerina Project
Kelsey | Kelsey Dawn Blogs
Rebecca | Percy and Grace
Harriet | Harriet Emily
Danielle | Simplicity Rose x
Ami | Ami Rose
Hazel | Hazel Jane


You girls need to answer these questions!
1. What's your favourite pizza topping?
2. Your favourite person in the world right now?
3. Biggest fear?
4. Have you met anyone famous?
5. Your favourite possession?
6. Something you're saving up to buy?
7. Favourite book/film character?
8. How often do you watch films?
9. Something you wish you had with you right now?
10. Do you regret anything you've done recently?
11. What book are you reading right now, if any?



I hope you ladies have fun!

new craze?

Are sheep the new trend? Everywhere I look up town, all I see are the darned things!

uptown abs

Another awesome ab workout to try!

Post by Andrew Vetter.

life

School is just so demanding. As is sickness, and dance, and keeping fit. It seems like I've had no time to blog in a long time, which I regret a lot. But it's nothing to fret over. Other aspects of my life right now are going okay.


I've gotten the results back from my mock GCSE exams that I sat for the fortnight before Christmas break and the week after. I got 9 A*s, 9 As, 4 Bs and a U (don't even ask about that one!). But I'm mostly pleased about those, and I now know what I need to study more to improve for my actual GCSEs. But before those, I still have my Creative Writing AS mock and more science mocks!


Dance has also gotten pretty busy recently. I'm now at the studio from 11am until 4:30pm every Saturday, for extra rehearsals. In exactly 13 weeks, we'll be dancing at the O2 in London! Eeek I'm so excited! This means I'll get to perform two twelve minute dances and be in the finalé! I can't wait!


I'd also like to talk about general fitness. Before Christmas I decided that I needed to build strength in my core, arms, legs, hips, basically everything, for ballet. Then I thought, why not just start now in the holidays before school starts back?

I'm proud to say that, on day 29, I've seen some progress! I mean, I saw a little bit of toning before, but now I feel even more ready to keep up the work! My stomach has started to see a little bit of toning when I flex, and I'm less bloated than I was before. I can lift my legs higher in developpé for ballet, and I can feel that I'm just stronger.

In addition to all of these daily workouts, I've been eating a lot more fruit and vegetables and drinking almost 2 litres of water a day, which is so much more than I was drinking before. Thanks to these and the exercise, my stomach is less bloated and my skin is so much clearer! I'm beginning to feel like I have more energy too!


Anyway, have a photo I created today. Happy Winnie The Pooh day!

contemporary choreography

I found this on Facebook earlier, and gosh, it's so beautiful!

Post by Rodrigo Pires.

insane core workout

So I saw this insane core workout on Facebook, I think I might try it when I get a little stronger!

Post by Supps R Us.

2014 review

Happy New Year all! I can't believe that it's now 2015, it seems so hard to get my head around. My family never usually stays up to welcome in the new year, but this year we attended two parties, the second one lasting until almost 2am. It's the first time I've been at a party to celebrate, and I've got to say, it was pretty fun.

Anyway, I thought I'd take this opportunity to look back over last year. It was my best year so far, and I'm determined to make this one even better.

The start of the year saw a colossal amount of dance and theatre rehearsals on my behalf. In March, I was part of a youth production of Cats the Musical. This was an incredible experience that has allowed me to grow and encouraged the development of many skills like teamwork and confidence, both on stage and within me as a person.

Shortly afterwards, in April, my dance school performed at Sadler's Wells Theatre in the West End, London. I really loved this, as it was really a once in a lifetime opportunity. It also brought about new friendships with other dancers, which really heightened the whole experience.

Then in May, our dance school held its annual show, and this was a great chance to perform for friends and family who don't usually watch us dance.

Throughout the summer, we've performed our Sadler's Wells dances at many events both locally and not, whether it be for charity of just for fun. This includes locations such as a local music festival, and Northampton Cricket Stadium (twice!), one of which was at the t20!

Moving on to September now. I started my final year of high school; it's pretty crazy to think that I've already been there for four whole years. This also meant the start of my Creative Writing AS level that I'm taking a year early, along with quite a few others from my year.

A couple of weeks into the school year I turned 16...another milestone.

Finally, this year's holidays have been incredible! We've been on family days out, I'm cleaning my room out ready to be redecorated, Christmas Day went very smoothly and so did last night! Something I'm very proud of, however, is the fact that I've been super motivated enough to work out every day since December 20th, and that's continuing on through today, even though I slept for half of the day!

Now we have to think of what we want to get out of this year. Time passes anyway, so we might as well steal something back while we can. I've come to realise that resolutions don't work for me. I see them as a fake promise that you make just to say that you're going to make an effort, and then they're forgotten.

That's why this year I'm going to set goals for myself and put them on a list, so I can tick them off. There's just something about ticking boxes and physically being able to see my progress that motivates me even further. I'll post them within the next few days.

Hopefully you've had a great year too, and you can look to 2015 to improve!

how to improve flexibility

Hannah, Little Miss Flexible

Right, before we start, I'd like to mention that I'm not trained in any of this, therefore I take no responsibility for injuries you may sustain. I'm simply sharing what works for me!

To start off, you need to warm up. In class, we usually do at least 15 mins of cardio. At home, I tend to do jumping jacks, allegro and other ballet jumps, or a little running/jumping routine.

This routine starts with running on the spot to each direction for 8 counts, then 6, then 4, then 2 (twice) then 1  (four times). You could then repeat the exercise jumping instead of running. This is possibly one of my favourite ways to warm up.


Now we can start stretching. Out of class, I like to start at the top of my body and work my way down. Before you start, just know that this will be a very lengthy post with a lot of pictures. Although, these aren't all of the stretches I do, just the easiest to take photos of at home.


Section 1: Neck Stretches

Start by tilting your head to the left, and then to the right. Hold each for 8 counts and repeat a few times. Do this slowly as you don't want to stretch too much.

Then look to the left, and to the right, following the 'rules' as for the tilt.

The last neck stretch involves looking up and down, with the same counts as before.

Section 2: Arm and Side Stretches

Swing your arms in circles: forwards, backwards, together, 'swimming', and arms going the opposite ways. Sorry I forgot to picture these, but I think they're pretty self-explanatory.

Follow these steps in the following order:
Top left: Lean over to one side
Top centre: Lean over but ensure your back is flat and as parallel to the floor as possible
Top right: Lean down to your leg, trying to touch your face against your shin
Centre: Put your head as far between and behind your legs as possible
Lower left: Lean down to your other leg, trying to touch your face against your shin
Lower centre: Lean over but ensure your back is flat and as parallel to the floor as possible
Lower right: Lean over to the other side

Repeat this but start on the side you just finished on. Hold each position for 8 counts. Then start again but hold for 6, then 4, then 2 and finally 1 count.



Section 3: Legs/Hips

Butterfly Stretch (and Variations)

Top left: Butterfly stretch.
Lower left: Keeping your back as flat as possible, bend at the waist and try to put your face on your feet.
Lower right: Push the thighs down towards the floor until they're as flat as you can. Hold for 30 seconds. Shake legs out and repeat.


Straddle

Centre: Open your legs out to straddle. Lean forwards, bending at the waist and keeping a flat back, and reach, trying to get your chest to the floor. Hold for 30 seconds; shake legs and repeat.
Left: Repeat as before, but leaning to the left and trying to put your face on your knee.
Right: Repeat as before, but leaning to the right.

Top left: Lean over to the side and try to get your ear to your knee. Hold for 30 seconds, shake out legs and repeat.
Top right: Repeat on the other side.
Lower left: Fold one leg in. Try to put your ear and face to the extended leg as before.
Lower right: As above, but on the other side.


Pigeon

Hold for at least 30 seconds.


Pike

Walk your legs out until they are straight and on the floor. If this is too easy, hook your hands around your feet and lift your heels off the floor. Another variation is to keep your nose on your knees as you walk your legs out. Hold these ending positions for 30 seconds.


Splits

Left: Deep lunge, ensuring that your knee doesn't go past your foot. Either hold this or bounce in this position for a short while.
Right: Deepen this stretch by putting your elbows on the floor. Again, either hold or bounce this.

Slide back into the splits, ensuring both legs and knees are straight. Go as low as you can, and don't worry if you aren't flat yet. I'm only just flat.

(Not pictured): Lean forwards over your front leg for a deeper stretch.

Repeat on the other side for the same amount of time. You must always stretch both sides equally. As you can see, this is my worse side, but I'm doing the same stretches. Also, if you have an injury, like I do, go a little bit easier on yourself. You don't need to make that any worse, so just rest it.

Oversplits

Find something to rest your foot on; I found this step-stool in my brother's bedroom. You can place it under either your front or back foot, or if you have two things, e.g. chairs, then you could put one under each leg. I prefer the latter option.

Found this picture from the summer; oversplits with two chairs

Excuse the blurriness, but you can also lean forwards to stretch even further. If your back is flexible, stretch backwards too.

Centre Splits

Lay on your back against a wall and push your legs down, letting gravity doing the work. I sometimes sit and read, or even study, like this. I found this from this video. Subscribe the channel as well, it's got some good tips!

Slowly go into your centre splits. I've never been able to do these, and probably never will, but it doesn't hurt to stretch them.

Imaginative Splits Stretches

This is an amazing stretch! Try to lean into it as much as you can. Another variation is putting your back leg up a wall behind you, but I find this difficult since my back is so weak and inflexible.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this post, please share this around and use it as much as you need. If you have any questions or would like some more stretches for other parts of the body, just let me know! Be safe and have fun!